Press Release

Balfour Beatty Flannery, a partnership between Balfour Beatty and Flannery Plant Hire, has trained its 1,000^th student at its Operator Skills Hub - showcasing its commitment to diversity and inclusion, transforming lives and bridging the construction skills gap.

With over 250,000 additional workers needed in the construction industry by 2028, Balfour Beatty Flannery’s Operator Skills Hub is key in addressing the sector’s significant skills shortage and providing trainees with a direct path into employment - with an 80% job conversion rate, far exceeding the national average of 36%.

Established in 2021 and supported by the UK Government’s Skills Bootcamp initiative, the Hub offers innovative training and apprenticeship schemes in plant operations. It aims to attract new talent to the sector while upskilling existing operators, with over 60% of graduates being made up of, or being, women (5%), young people (13%), the previously unemployed (27%), people with disabilities (12%), ex-offenders (4%), and veterans (5%).

In addition, the purpose-built facility in Birmingham provides 200 supplementary courses for current plant operators to further upskill and prepare them for the modern-day, digitally enabled construction site.

Balfour Beatty Flannery’s 1,000^th Skills Bootcamp student, Abigail Cleverley, achieved the nationally recognised accreditation to operate articulated dumper trucks and rollers. She has since secured a role at Balfour Beatty VINCI – HS2's construction partner for the West Midlands.

Talking about her experience, Abigail Cleverley, Operator Skills Hub Graduate, said: “Completing my training at the Operator Skills Hub has been an incredible experience. The hands-on approach and state-of-the-art equipment gave me the confidence and skills I need to succeed in this industry now and in the future.

“Thanks to the training, I’ve not only gained a nationally recognised qualification but also secured a role with Balfour Beatty VINCI on HS2 – one of the most exciting infrastructure projects in the UK. I can’t wait to be part of such a transformative scheme and to contribute to building the UK’s future infrastructure.”

Abigail received her certificate from Andy Ormerod, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Asset & Technology Solutions and Patrick Flannery, Managing Director of Flannery Plant Hire.

Discussing the Operator Skills Hub, Andy, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the work we’re doing here in partnership with Flannery. Together, we’re opening doors to meaningful careers for people from all backgrounds—many of whom might never have seen construction and infrastructure as an exciting career path until they joined us.

“As we look ahead to the future, we're committed to continuing our work to close the industry’s skills gap, creating a diverse and inclusive culture in our sector and providing a skilled and resilient workforce that can deliver for the UK in the future.”

Patrick, said: “The Operator Skills Hub has allowed us to provide an opportunity to both new entrants into the industry and those existing plant operators looking to upskill through our Skills Bootcamp in Plant Operations. 

“Along with a diverse array of learners from career changers to veterans we have engaged with over 50 employers to secure meaningful and sustainable employment benefiting the wider industry”.

With dedicated training sites across the UK, like the Operators Skills Hub and its Overhead Line Training Facility, as well as numerous apprenticeships and placements programmes, Balfour Beatty continues to upskill the next generation of skilled workers.   

Watch the highlights from the day and hear from those involved in our video showcasing the milestone achievement here.

ENDS

Media enquiries to: 

Thomas Boorman
Balfour Beatty
+44 (0)203 810 2345
thomas.boorman@balfourbeatty.com 
www.balfourbeatty.com | follow us @balfourbeatty

All non-media related enquiries should be directed to +44 (0)20 7216 6800 or info@balfourbeatty.com

Notes to editors: 

• Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group with over 26,000 employees driving the delivery of powerful new solutions, shaping thinking, creating skylines and inspiring a new generation of talent to be the change-makers of tomorrow.
• We finance, develop, build, maintain and operate the increasingly complex and critical infrastructure that supports national economies and deliver projects at the heart of local communities.
• Over the last 115 years we have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world. Currently, we are working to deliver Hinkley Point C, the first UK nuclear power station in a generation; constructing the world-class arts and cultural facility, the Lyric Theatre, in Hong Kong; and designing, building, financing, operating and maintaining the Automated People Mover superstructure at one of the busiest airports in the world, Los Angeles International Airport.
• Balfour Beatty is committed to attracting the next generation of talent. We want to inspire and educate people to consider the construction and infrastructure industry as an attractive long term career choice. As a member of The 5% Club, a dynamic movement of employers committed to providing ‘earn and learn’ positions’, we continue to provide young people with the skills and experience they need to build strong, future careers.  
• Balfour Beatty’s Asset & Technology Solution (ATS) provides in-house expert services covering a wide range of asset and equipment services. These assets provide innovative, safe and sustainable solutions, with a wide range of equipment and services including HGV’s, tower and crawler cranes, piling equipment, CCTV and security services, survey services and drones, suction excavators, sweepers, modular accommodation and much more.